When do the bucks move to their summer bedding, this time of year? After green-up?
Are they still in their winter bedding until then? Or is there transition bedding between winter & summer?
I'm just curious because the bedding I'm scouting now is mostly empty. I may be kicking them out on the way in?
Buck bedding timing
- tgreeno
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Buck bedding timing
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Re: Buck bedding timing
In my opinion, I would think the food and the predator pressure changes them back to their summer bedding. So when the green up happens, the food changes and the areas get thicker from the green up for better security. Also think about if there is still ice in your areas. If it's still frozen the predators can still get in their secure areas. Until the thaw happens they probably won't move back. I bet it's a combination of factors though.
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Re: Buck bedding timing
In my opinion it varys drastically depending on what terrain your hunting / scouting. In some areas it never changes all year, in other areas it may change drastically. I think amount of cover, type of cover, availability of food, water level, ice, snow depth, etc. can all play into it.
- rfickes87
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Re: Buck bedding timing
dan wrote:In my opinion it varys drastically depending on what terrain your hunting / scouting. In some areas it never changes all year, in other areas it may change drastically. I think amount of cover, type of cover, availability of food, water level, ice, snow depth, etc. can all play into it.
Dan, I recently scouted a large remote ridge. Over a mile or two from the parking lot. Its mostly thick mtn laurel above the military crest and more open below the crest. All I did was walk the crest. Once in a while id approach a point and hear one take off down over the hill. There are about 5 points l checked out on that elevation that day.
One point in particular had at least 5 beds around it. This was mid February, i took the time to take some video. One or two beds were still matted down...
https://youtu.be/NYH_oYC6cSU
The others weren't as fresh but still had hair on top the leaves...
https://youtu.be/bAt0lBTKt4E
None were worn very well, none to the dirt or anything. But anyway, I was sitting in various beds I noticed as I looked down the hill i could see rub lines. Leading down to an ag field. If I found all these beds in February, surely this must be a primary bedding area correct? Obviously its getting use. At a time of year when cover is minimal.
Also, there are drainage along this hillside giving the deer access to water within 50-75 yards of the beds. I think he's got everything he needs. Food, water, cover, thermals on the point, and an escape down over the hill when he hears people crashing thru the laurel... If he's bedded there in Feb, surely he's there all year right? this has got to be primary hill bedding, right?
Also a side question... An adjacent point to this point is a "dog ear" point. It is very thick again with laurel. There is so much crap on that point its amazing. Heavy trails thru the laurel where they can walk thru it...
https://youtu.be/Yj5bbBlSp3Q
But i could not find a bed on this dog ear to save my life. It was strange. It had way more sign than the other point i mentioned but not one bed? I was looking on the tip of the dog ear for the bed. Perhaps on a dog ear the bedding isn't there but somewhere else? Maybe on the opposite side where it meets the main ridge. Perhaps the wind is swirling more in that area.
But anyways,
I just wanted to pick your brain about early spring hill bedding. I think this area holds them year round and I wanted to run my findings past you. Thanks in advance!
"Pressure and Time. That's all it takes, really. Pressure, and time..."
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Re: Buck bedding timing
rfickes87 wrote:dan wrote:In my opinion it varys drastically depending on what terrain your hunting / scouting. In some areas it never changes all year, in other areas it may change drastically. I think amount of cover, type of cover, availability of food, water level, ice, snow depth, etc. can all play into it.
Dan, I recently scouted a large remote ridge. Over a mile or two from the parking lot. Its mostly thick mtn laurel above the military crest and more open below the crest. All I did was walk the crest. Once in a while id approach a point and hear one take off down over the hill. There are about 5 points l checked out on that elevation that day.
One point in particular had at least 5 beds around it. This was mid February, i took the time to take some video. One or two beds were still matted down...
https://youtu.be/NYH_oYC6cSU
The others weren't as fresh but still had hair on top the leaves...
https://youtu.be/bAt0lBTKt4E
None were worn very well, none to the dirt or anything. But anyway, I was sitting in various beds I noticed as I looked down the hill i could see rub lines. Leading down to an ag field. If I found all these beds in February, surely this must be a primary bedding area correct? Obviously its getting use. At a time of year when cover is minimal.
Also, there are drainage along this hillside giving the deer access to water within 50-75 yards of the beds. I think he's got everything he needs. Food, water, cover, thermals on the point, and an escape down over the hill when he hears people crashing thru the laurel... If he's bedded there in Feb, surely he's there all year right? this has got to be primary hill bedding, right?
Also a side question... An adjacent point to this point is a "dog ear" point. It is very thick again with laurel. There is so much crap on that point its amazing. Heavy trails thru the laurel where they can walk thru it...
https://youtu.be/Yj5bbBlSp3Q
Sounds like primary bedding... Im at work and the video's you posted are blocked here. I would not rule out the "dog ear" just yet either.
But i could not find a bed on this dog ear to save my life. It was strange. It had way more sign than the other point i mentioned but not one bed? I was looking on the tip of the dog ear for the bed. Perhaps on a dog ear the bedding isn't there but somewhere else? Maybe on the opposite side where it meets the main ridge. Perhaps the wind is swirling more in that area.
But anyways,
I just wanted to pick your brain about early spring hill bedding. I think this area holds them year round and I wanted to run my findings past you. Thanks in advance!
- rfickes87
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Re: Buck bedding timing
dan wrote:rfickes87 wrote:dan wrote:In my opinion it varys drastically depending on what terrain your hunting / scouting. In some areas it never changes all year, in other areas it may change drastically. I think amount of cover, type of cover, availability of food, water level, ice, snow depth, etc. can all play into it.
Dan, I recently scouted a large remote ridge. Over a mile or two from the parking lot. Its mostly thick mtn laurel above the military crest and more open below the crest. All I did was walk the crest. Once in a while id approach a point and hear one take off down over the hill. There are about 5 points l checked out on that elevation that day.
One point in particular had at least 5 beds around it. This was mid February, i took the time to take some video. One or two beds were still matted down...
https://youtu.be/NYH_oYC6cSU
The others weren't as fresh but still had hair on top the leaves...
https://youtu.be/bAt0lBTKt4E
None were worn very well, none to the dirt or anything. But anyway, I was sitting in various beds I noticed as I looked down the hill i could see rub lines. Leading down to an ag field. If I found all these beds in February, surely this must be a primary bedding area correct? Obviously its getting use. At a time of year when cover is minimal.
Also, there are drainage along this hillside giving the deer access to water within 50-75 yards of the beds. I think he's got everything he needs. Food, water, cover, thermals on the point, and an escape down over the hill when he hears people crashing thru the laurel... If he's bedded there in Feb, surely he's there all year right? this has got to be primary hill bedding, right?
Also a side question... An adjacent point to this point is a "dog ear" point. It is very thick again with laurel. There is so much crap on that point its amazing. Heavy trails thru the laurel where they can walk thru it...
https://youtu.be/Yj5bbBlSp3Q
Sounds like primary bedding... Im at work and the video's you posted are blocked here. I would not rule out the "dog ear" just yet either.
But i could not find a bed on this dog ear to save my life. It was strange. It had way more sign than the other point i mentioned but not one bed? I was looking on the tip of the dog ear for the bed. Perhaps on a dog ear the bedding isn't there but somewhere else? Maybe on the opposite side where it meets the main ridge. Perhaps the wind is swirling more in that area.
But anyways,
I just wanted to pick your brain about early spring hill bedding. I think this area holds them year round and I wanted to run my findings past you. Thanks in advance!
Dan, you quoted me but I don't see your comment?
"Pressure and Time. That's all it takes, really. Pressure, and time..."
- tgreeno
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Re: Buck bedding timing
dan wrote:In my opinion it varys drastically depending on what terrain your hunting / scouting. In some areas it never changes all year, in other areas it may change drastically. I think amount of cover, type of cover, availability of food, water level, ice, snow depth, etc. can all play into it.
That's what I kinda figured. I hunt mostly smaller swampy areas, farm land and some small hill bedding. Not much ag stuff.
When I do my main scouting Feb thru Apr. I just seem to rarely bump deer. And was curious if my spots just suck or I'm bumping them on the way in?
If I use last year as a barometer, then my spots must suck
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It's better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid, than to open it an remove all doubt
It's better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid, than to open it an remove all doubt
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Re: Buck bedding timing
rfickes87 wrote:dan wrote:rfickes87 wrote:dan wrote:In my opinion it varys drastically depending on what terrain your hunting / scouting. In some areas it never changes all year, in other areas it may change drastically. I think amount of cover, type of cover, availability of food, water level, ice, snow depth, etc. can all play into it.
Dan, I recently scouted a large remote ridge. Over a mile or two from the parking lot. Its mostly thick mtn laurel above the military crest and more open below the crest. All I did was walk the crest. Once in a while id approach a point and hear one take off down over the hill. There are about 5 points l checked out on that elevation that day.
One point in particular had at least 5 beds around it. This was mid February, i took the time to take some video. One or two beds were still matted down...
https://youtu.be/NYH_oYC6cSU
The others weren't as fresh but still had hair on top the leaves...
https://youtu.be/bAt0lBTKt4E
None were worn very well, none to the dirt or anything. But anyway, I was sitting in various beds I noticed as I looked down the hill i could see rub lines. Leading down to an ag field. If I found all these beds in February, surely this must be a primary bedding area correct? Obviously its getting use. At a time of year when cover is minimal.
Also, there are drainage along this hillside giving the deer access to water within 50-75 yards of the beds. I think he's got everything he needs. Food, water, cover, thermals on the point, and an escape down over the hill when he hears people crashing thru the laurel... If he's bedded there in Feb, surely he's there all year right? this has got to be primary hill bedding, right?
Also a side question... An adjacent point to this point is a "dog ear" point. It is very thick again with laurel. There is so much crap on that point its amazing. Heavy trails thru the laurel where they can walk thru it...
https://youtu.be/Yj5bbBlSp3Q
Sounds like primary bedding... Im at work and the video's you posted are blocked here. I would not rule out the "dog ear" just yet either.
But i could not find a bed on this dog ear to save my life. It was strange. It had way more sign than the other point i mentioned but not one bed? I was looking on the tip of the dog ear for the bed. Perhaps on a dog ear the bedding isn't there but somewhere else? Maybe on the opposite side where it meets the main ridge. Perhaps the wind is swirling more in that area.
But anyways,
I just wanted to pick your brain about early spring hill bedding. I think this area holds them year round and I wanted to run my findings past you. Thanks in advance!
Dan, you quoted me but I don't see your comment?
Sounds like primary bedding... Im at work and the video's you posted are blocked here. I would not rule out the "dog ear" just yet either.
- rfickes87
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Re: Buck bedding timing
dan wrote:rfickes87 wrote:dan wrote:rfickes87 wrote:dan wrote:In my opinion it varys drastically depending on what terrain your hunting / scouting. In some areas it never changes all year, in other areas it may change drastically. I think amount of cover, type of cover, availability of food, water level, ice, snow depth, etc. can all play into it.
Dan, I recently scouted a large remote ridge. Over a mile or two from the parking lot. Its mostly thick mtn laurel above the military crest and more open below the crest. All I did was walk the crest. Once in a while id approach a point and hear one take off down over the hill. There are about 5 points l checked out on that elevation that day.
One point in particular had at least 5 beds around it. This was mid February, i took the time to take some video. One or two beds were still matted down...
https://youtu.be/NYH_oYC6cSU
The others weren't as fresh but still had hair on top the leaves...
https://youtu.be/bAt0lBTKt4E
None were worn very well, none to the dirt or anything. But anyway, I was sitting in various beds I noticed as I looked down the hill i could see rub lines. Leading down to an ag field. If I found all these beds in February, surely this must be a primary bedding area correct? Obviously its getting use. At a time of year when cover is minimal.
Also, there are drainage along this hillside giving the deer access to water within 50-75 yards of the beds. I think he's got everything he needs. Food, water, cover, thermals on the point, and an escape down over the hill when he hears people crashing thru the laurel... If he's bedded there in Feb, surely he's there all year right? this has got to be primary hill bedding, right?
Also a side question... An adjacent point to this point is a "dog ear" point. It is very thick again with laurel. There is so much crap on that point its amazing. Heavy trails thru the laurel where they can walk thru it...
https://youtu.be/Yj5bbBlSp3Q
Sounds like primary bedding... Im at work and the video's you posted are blocked here. I would not rule out the "dog ear" just yet either.
But i could not find a bed on this dog ear to save my life. It was strange. It had way more sign than the other point i mentioned but not one bed? I was looking on the tip of the dog ear for the bed. Perhaps on a dog ear the bedding isn't there but somewhere else? Maybe on the opposite side where it meets the main ridge. Perhaps the wind is swirling more in that area.
But anyways,
I just wanted to pick your brain about early spring hill bedding. I think this area holds them year round and I wanted to run my findings past you. Thanks in advance!
Dan, you quoted me but I don't see your comment?
Sounds like primary bedding... Im at work and the video's you posted are blocked here. I would not rule out the "dog ear" just yet either.
Oh ok. Yeah check em out sometime when you get a chance!
"Pressure and Time. That's all it takes, really. Pressure, and time..."
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